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Previous Wānanga
- Thursday 31st July 2025
- 10am – 2pm
- Te Pāroa Marae
For more information email paretapua.tipene@tpoom.co.nz
More dates coming soon
What is Rheumatic Fever?
Rheumatic fever is an illness that can happen after a strep throat infection if it’s not treated properly with antibiotics. It can cause swelling and damage in the body, especially to the heart, and can lead to long-term heart problems.
In Aotearoa, Māori and Pacific children are much more likely to get rheumatic fever than non-Māori. This is often because of things like crowded housing and trouble getting to a doctor quickly. The best way to prevent it is to get sore throats checked and treated early, especially in tamariki. Making sure everyone has warm, dry homes and good access to healthcare also helps protect against it.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptom of a strep throat infection is a sore throat. In young children, signs of a sore throat can include:
- finding it hard to swallow
- having trouble eating or drinking.
The following symptoms of rheumatic fever can then develop 1-5 weeks after a person has had a strep throat infection:
- Sore joints. This is the most common symptom of rheumatic fever. Joints may be red, swollen and feel hot. This often includes the hip, knees, elbows, ankles and wrists. Different joints may be sore on other days.
- Sore joints may cause a limp or cause difficulty walking due to pain.
Shortness of breath — you may feel short of breath more easily than usual when you are active or exercising. - Unusual jerky movements of your hands, feet, tongue and face. This can look like fidgeting or being unable to sit still and can affect your handwriting. The movements stop during sleep.
If you or someone in your whānau has any rheumatic fever symptoms, get advice from your usual healthcare provider urgently.
Preventing Rheumatic Fever
Get sore throats checked quickly to prevent Strep A throat infections from developing into rheumatic fever.
There are lots of places you can have a sore throat checked:
- You can go to your doctor or nurse. You may have to pay a fee; phone ahead to check.
- Contact your local pharmacy to find out if they provide free sore throat checking.
- Your child’s school may have a free sore throat checking programme – contact them to find out.
- If a Strep A throat infection is diagnosed, antibiotics will be prescribed to prevent rheumatic fever and the full 10-day course of antibiotics need to be taken, even if you feel better.
Living with Rūmātiki | Rheumatic Fever
To prevent more episodes of rheumatic fever that can lead to rheumatic heart disease, it is important to stop further strep throat infections. This requires penicillin injections every 28 days for at least 10 years. These injections may be needed into adulthood.
If you or your tamariki and rangatahi have rheumatic fever you may also require:
- Time off school
- To reduce or stop exercise until your body has recovered — you should only return to normal activity when it is determined safe by your medical team
- Regular dental checks and extra care of teeth and gums
- An annual flu vaccine as well as your regular childhood and COVID-19 immunisations.
The flu vaccine is free for people who have rheumatic heart disease. Immunisations are important for people who have had rheumatic fever to prevent other illnesses which can affect heart health, like flu and COVID-19.
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Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga is a family-focused organisation who have been working with whānau to achieve their goals and general wellbeing for more than 38 years. Holistic, personalised plans are central to delivery of care, support and development for individuals, whānau and communities.
Underpinning this are their organisational values – which are woven through everything they do: Kaitiakitanga, Whakamana, Kotahitanga and Whanaungatanga. Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga are the mandated political leader of Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga and fourteen Heretaunga Marae are represented by the 15 elected trustees who form the governance board.
Te Tairāwhiti – Ally Tamihere
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Ko Waipaoa ko Waiaua ngā awa.
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Ko Takitimu ko Ōmarumutu ngā marae,
Ko Te Whanau-ā-Kai, Nga Potiki, ko Ngati Ruatakena ngā hapū,
Ko Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki ko Te Whakatohea ngā iwi.
